Slotting fretboards...finding an easier way!

As I've got a lot of guitar making work on, and need to get some custom builds finished, also with loads of guitar shows to prepare for, I'd been thinking about improving my efficiency with slotting fretboards. I'd already recently built my second manual cutting jig, which uses an master template and an indexing system, but it's still quite a drag slotting fretboards, so after much consideration and pondering. I decided that I needed to get a table saw. Buying workshop power tools is always a problem I feel, as unless you have a huge budget, it's very difficult to get the right tool at the right price. You can get all sorts of bandsaws, table saws and thicknessers etc at attractive prices, but inevitably they are flimsily built and underpowered..and I've learned it's always better to buy something with more capacity than you think you'll need.

I'd looked all over eBay for weeks, but the used stuff that was on there was not going cheap, and generally speaking was cheaply-made junk. I've never had table saw before, but did some research, and decided I REALLY needed a small but robust machine....that's not easy to find. The main criterion for robustness was a cast iron table...and that's what takes the saw out of the budget category. Most cheap saws have inaccurate extruded or cast aluminium tables, or even worse, pressed steel tables..with flimsy pressed steel or even plastic enclosures. I found one that fitted the bill..it wasn't exactly within my budget, but I'd had a good day at the Northwest Guitar Show, so decided to plough some of my profit back into the workshop. It's an Axminster "Hobby" saw..but don't let the description fool you, it's a robust little beast...weighing in at a monster 55kg (120 lbs!!!) ...that's the cast iron for you. It is amazingly quiet, as it has an induction motor..and I suspect the motor contributes a lot to the weight...and the cost.

I had to buy a fret slotting blade (not cheap) and I also splashed out on a template so I can slot 25 1/2" and 25" scale fretboards. I've made a "sled" which slides over the table, and got a bit sophisticated with it so I can raise the indexing pin, so that as well as just slotting standard1/4" thick fretboards, this also allows me to slot direct into the top of a one piece neck blank.

I was happy slotting fretboards manually, one by one, and it's quite easy to make a jig...but when you get to making 10 guitars per week sometimes...it can become quite a task. So, hopefully, this is going to speed up getting through those back-orders..and by the way, if you need a slotted fretboard, you can now buy one from me!! Head over to my website and look in the Chickenbone John online shop

I do the fret ends by hand...it takes a fair bit of time. I clamp the neck down to my workbench, and take the fret ends down to the sides of the board with an 8" fine file, then put a 30° bevel on the fret ends, and turning the file just enough to start rounding off the edge of the fretboard and fret ends. I then use a concave fret file to "dome" the fret ends, and finish with 1000g wet and dry paper. A decent concave fretfile is the proper tool for the job..mine is pretty ancient now and I could do with a new one, when I checked the price it was around £50 for one! I finish off polishing the frets with 0000 grade wirewool and a steel fretboard protector. It's a pretty involved process, but I've got it down pretty well now.

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Comments

jabes May 23, 2013 at 6:10pm

Great when neighbours ask what you're doing in your shed and say great ,do you sell them, must get 50 quid eh?
ChickenboneJohn May 23, 2013 at 2:18pm

10 guitars a week is pretty exceptional...last week I managed to get a custom order out and 9 ready for a guitar show - I had hardly any stock and it was the biggest show of the year, so it had to be done. I've now slotted about 20 fretboards, and also done some one piece necks with the frets set direct (no fretboard)...it's certainly helped my productivity, but some jobs just have to be done totally by hand, there's no short-cut with setting and finishing frets.
ChickenboneJohn May 23, 2013 at 2:10pm

I do the fret ends by hand...it takes a fair bit of time. I clamp the neck down to my workbench, and take the fret ends down to the sides of the board with an 8" fine file, then put a 30° bevel on the fret ends, and turning the file just enough to start rounding off the edge of the fretboard and fret ends. I then use a concave fret file to "dome" the fret ends, and finish with 1000g wet and dry paper. A decent concave fretfile is the proper tool for the job..mine is pretty ancient now and I could do with a new one, when I checked the price it was around £50 for one! I finish off polishing the frets with 0000 grade wirewool and a steel fretboard protector. It's a pretty involved process, but I've got it down pretty well now.
jabes May 23, 2013 at 1:42pm

haha ,i knew that last bit was coming , fair play ,.10 guits a week is some going, I make maybe 3 necks at a time all the same scale but with the headstock blank so i can get 'creative' but not too creative.lol.

I find the dressing the frets the most tedious ,getting that 'snag free ' feel any tips on that ,just using hand tools mind...
Randy S. Bretz May 23, 2013 at 5:42am

I didn`t find Jay`s but this one is similar to his set up.
Randy S. Bretz May 23, 2013 at 4:58am

Jay of Tinyguitars has a cool set up for doing his slotting. A saw he came up with, it has a long shaft that he has small circular saw blades same thickness as the slot. He can set them up to any scale length he chooses. One swipe and the fretboard is slotted. I think there might be a picture of it somewhere on here.

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